Do-it-yourself eyebrow maintenance

Elaina is a Phoenix-based freelance writer, blogger and co-founder of the Kidlee baby book app. Check out her blog, Fun Finds For Mom, for product reviews, recipes and fun activities for moms and kids.

DIY Eyebrows

Eyebrows have a major impact on your overall appearance. Professionally done brows are gorgeous, but you may not have the time or money to get to the salon as often as you'd like. Use these DIY instructions to keep your eyebrows looking polished between appointments.

Before you begin

Before you become your own tweezing technician, have a professional shape your eyebrows. This will give you a reference point for the shape you'll be maintaining at home. After having your eyebrows professionally done, you should expect new hair growth to emerge within three to four weeks.

Quick tip: New waxing and threading centers are opening all over the country. Take advantage of any first-time customer promotions offered in your area.

What you'll need:

Spiral Brush

Brow shaping scissors

Tweezers

Brow Pencil

Invest in a quality pair of tweezers. Using the right tool for the job will save time, and help you achieve the look you're after. The Tweezerman Slant Tweezer has been selected by Allure Magazine as a 'Best of Beauty' winner for 10 years, and comes with a lifetime guarantee. Plus, you can send them to the company for sharpening whenever you like.

Instructions:

Trim excess hairs with brow shaping scissors. Remember, less is more. You can always cut more if needed, so trim slowly and carefully.

Brush brows downward and again, trimming tips of longer hairs -- again being careful not to over trim.

Brush brows back into place.

Use your tweezers to pluck hairs below the brow bone, grabbing at the root and removing entire hair in one sweeping motion. Pull the hair in the direction of growth.

Tweeze any stray hairs between your brows.

Hold a pencil straight up at the side of your nose to determine where your brow should start. Tweeze any hairs that go past that imaginary line.

Hold your pencil at an angle, with the bottom at the side of your nose, and the top going over the middle of your pupil. This will point you to the top of your natural brow arch. Tweeze hairs that fall under the brow arch, being careful not to over tweeze.

Angle your pencil toward the outside of your eye to determine where your brow should end. Tweeze hairs that fall beyond this end point.

Use brow pencil to fill in any gaps or areas where hair is sparse.

Add highlighter to your brow bone to add a visual lift to the eye area